PROVIDENCE — When Rhode Islanders head to the polls for the September primaries they will cast their votes through the state's 590 shiny new voting machines.

After years of holdups, the state has updated its defunct 20-year-old voting equipment that has been a point of contention year after year. The new machines that will read the paper ballots will now have digital screens displaying directions, and the machines will use wireless technology to transmit results — rather than the dial-up modem technology that had been in place for years.

Voters will still cast their ballots in the same privacy booths but will fill in a bubble to make their selections — rather than drawing a line across a selection. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea called the process "incredibly secure" and "incredibly fast," noting that election results will now be available more quickly.

The total cost for the voting machines — an eight-year lease with an option to purchase — totals $9.28 million, including maintenance. The budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, includes nearly $1.4 million for the machines.

The state Board of Elections for years was responsible for purchasing voting equipment, but after roughly five years of logistical holdups and financial woes, a bill approved in 2015 transferred the responsibility to the secretary of state.

Within a week, the office is also expected to unveil an online voter registration portal. For the first time, voters will be able to register and update their addresses online. Legislation was passed this year, giving the state the go-ahead to create the online system. Development costs were $78,000.

"Frankly, Rhode Island is a little behind," Governor Raimondo said, calling the technology a good investment.

In September, the state will also be testing a new "e-poll book" system that will eventually replace the paper check-in voters currently go though with a poll worker when they arrive at a polling location.

The electronic system is run on tablets. Poll workers can either scan the barcode on the back of a voter's driver's license or type in a name on a tablet to find a voter's registration record — replacing the massive paper books poll workers currently thumb through when a voter checks in. The state's current budget includes $195,000 for the pilot program.

The electronic system will be tested at 59 polling locations in September throughout Bristol, Burrillville, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Middletown, North Kingstown, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Providence, Richmond, Warwick, Westerly, West Greenwich and West Warwick.

If the pilot goes well, more locations might be added in November. The state aims to have them in full use by 2018.

Gorbea called the tablets a "wow factor" representing a huge transformation in elections.

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